Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-08

and you thought would marry with one
of your two boys, which of them would
you prefer it should bel"
"Ellaw
Answer me-which onef'
"0h, Jack, Jack! thousand times
Jack?"
Hush! Not another word Go dry your
eyes and hold your peace"
Later, on that same afternoon, Jack
entered the cottage, finding his mother in
the kitchen. He came to tell her that
he had found good lodging house
which he could take when he pleased and
keep as long as he pleased.
He was still speaking when Ella, with a
light straw hat on her head, entered the
room aud put her hand on his strong
arm.
He trembled like an aspen.
"lAck, viii you please come with mes |
have something to say to you"
He went with her out OF doors OUT into
the garden and into pretty little arbor
of towering vines.
"Jack Y"-sbe had gathered all her
courage and all her strength, and her
own great love, never before so great and
palpable as now, geve her help-."J lack,
why are you going awaySn
He started as from blow and gazed
into her face.
ELLA, don't ask me. Let me gol |
must go!'
Jack, why must you go?"
He looked at her, his frame shook from
top to toe; he tried to speak, but could
not.
rhe girl had taken him unawares.
He had not been prepared for such q
question from her lips.
Jack" reaching his hand up to his
great, broad shoulder, would you not be
willing to stop at home if l asked you to
do it,"
You? Ella, why should you ask me 7"
because the old home will seem to me
deserted with you gone from it. Really,
Jack, if you persist in going | believe |
shall go, too"
ella, Ella! No, no, no! You do not
mean it. Let me gor'
Don't be foolish, Jack. Open your
eyes. What is it you think | do not
mean?'
A single moment the strong man strug-
gled with himself, and then burst forth:
"Ella, love you! love you with az the
love that is within me, as | have, / be-
lieve, loved you from the first. You are
to me the all in all of life. Oh, how
love you! Gould you love me any in re-
turns"
"Yes, dear Jack" the brave girl replied,
frankly and honestly, at the same time
giving him her hand. ~ love you with
all my heart and with all my strength.
viii you stay nowG"
He caught her to his bosom and held
her there, long, long time.
"Oh, Ella! This is not a dream. Can
all this happiness be miner"
"Ah! you share it with me, dear Jack,
for in all my life was never before so
entirely, SO supremely happy as | am at
this moment. Oh, Jack! | love you
very, very deeply, and do not fear to
trust my life in your hands.
Darling! On, how l will strive for
your good! And how devoutly do thank
providence for this browning JOY and
blessing of my life!"
Half an hour later they went in, hand
in hand, and when the widow saw, her
overwhelming JOY was speeches..
But she found her speech by-and- by,
and then they sat down, and very soon
she had heard the whole story.
And that evening Harry heard the
story.
At first he refused to believe ID but
when he had heard il from Elias own
lips he could doubt no more.
His pride was more deeply hurt than
his heart, in truth, himself was the only
thing on Garth which he wholly and
r rtiiy loved.
For time he was very bitter, feeling
that he had been wronged and defraud
ed, but his ill-temper fell back upon him
self, having no power to mar the happi
ness of others; and then he became con
scious of the facs-when he saw that his
making himself unhappy did not drive
thes miles from the faces OF the Other
inmates of the cottage he held his peac,
and ceased to find fault.
Several years had passed; the children
of Jack and Ella were as bright faced anC
smiling as we're their parents. Harry ha(
found him wife, and was the father o.
one child a pale, dark-eyed boy, wher
one day, as the two CHANGED to be for
little time alone together at Jacks fin,
IboAQSbSNf iihll lVOhOh PoiA mo hpoNSo
and said ELLA, never asked the ques
ton, and yet have often desired mucl
to know when it was that you first began
to like jack Are you willing to tell met
81 always liked him, Harry. Howcoul'
help itf'
$50 you liked me. You will not den.
that. ] mean, when did you first max
ap your mind that you preferred him t.
met"
Harry, you would be angry if I shoul'
tell yor."
He promised that he would nos-prom
ised so solemnly that she finally consent
ed to tell him.
And she told him of the scene will
which our story opens. She told hin
how she had heard him answer his moth
er, and then how Jack had answered.
She SO reproduced the scene that h'
could not dispute it.
Harry" she said, in conclusion, "il
that hour l knew that could never b.
wholly happy as your wife. The MAJ
who could so speak to his aged mothe
would be likely to speak still more harsh
ly TO his wife after the glamor of thu
honeymoon IVES gone and business care
had settled uuoa him y